Kayak tour around Kållandsö 35 km
Lidköping

Kayak around Kållandsö

Kayaking around the island Kållandsö requires some experience and is not recommended for beginners. The entire distance is about 35 km, of which about 30 percent of the trip goes offshore, which means that you travel on open water. Since Lake Vänern is an inland sea conditions can change quickly. It is suggested that you make a number of stops along the way, both to discover fantastic places and refresh yourself so that you can paddle yourself all the way round.

Kayak rentals

Kayak rental is available at Läckö Slott and Naven during the summer. There is also a number of launching locations around Kållandsö for those who bring their own kayak, these are indicated on the map. The tour is produced with the help of the Kållandsökartan map, which also includes tips for more paddle-friendly routes!

Rent a kayak

Tips for stops during the tour

• At Läckö Slott, in addition to the opportunity to rent a kayak, there is also a restaurant and café and accommodation. The restaurant offers first-class food made with local ingredients including produce from the castle garden just a few hundred meters away. Café Stallet, also listed in the White Guide, is where you will find everything from home-baked bread and fantastic pastries to light lunches. If you want to stay overnight, there are hotel rooms at Naturum as well as pitches for motorhomes, caravans or tents at Läckö Slott Camping.
  
  

• Läckö Strand is a peaceful spot right beside the lake that offers accommodation and a café. If you start at Naven it is about halfway on the trip around Kållandsö. 

• Djurgårdsudde is a perfect stop for fika in idyllic suroundings. They serve simple lunches and homebaking and, of course, ice cream.
  
  
• Brostugan sits at Ullersund, right where Kålland (the mainlaind) and Kållandsö (the island) meet. Here you can sit on the pier right by the water and enjoy good food and fika while looking over the channel and keeping track of all the boats that pass.
  
  
• On Spårön there is a shelter, barbecue areas and a toilet as well as an enjoyable walking trail. A perfect stop if you want to spend the night in the great outdoors. This means a detour of about 1.2 km, but it’s well worthwhile. If you start at Läckö Slott, it is about halfway around Kållandsö.
  
  
• At Traneberg there is also a nice hiking trail and shelter with barbecue area and toilet, which makes this another excellent stop for overnight stays. It can also be a good alternative if you need a barbecue break when it's time to recharge the batteries.
  
  
• Naven is home for Naven Outdoor Experience who are responsible for kayak rentals on Kållandsö. They also offer courses and guided tours for those who are interested.
  
  
• Outside Naven you can take the Wreck Safari tour and discover sunken and abandoned ships. Find out about life on Lake Vänern around the turn of the century and the fascinating history of the wrecked ships. Download the app ‘Läckö Kinnekulle’ for the tour route.
  
  
• Make a stop at Hörvikens Marina. Here you will find the cosy eatery Tap Station Kållandsö Marina, which serves tasty food and about 25 varieties of beer on tap! Remember, you should not take the kayak if you have been drinking, so take it easy during your visit and wait until the alcohol has left your body before continuing the tour around Kållandsö. Use water sense and common sense when you are on the lake!
  
  
• At Spikens Fiskehamn (Spiken Fishing Village) you can try freshly smoked fish in a picturesque setting. Make a visit to the small craft workshops and there is always time for an ice cream break on the jetty. Facilities in the village include public toilets.

Tips for accommodation

• Best Western Edward Hotel
• Bäverli Hills B&B
• Läckö Strand
• Naven Outdoor Experience
• Stadshotellet Lidköping
• Stiftelsen Läckö Slott

READ MORE: More kayaking adventures in West Sweden

Route information

Length: 
About 35 km

Approximate time:
7 hours active paddling, full day or multiple day tour

Conditions: 
Lake Vänern open water and inshore archipelago

Take note:
Remember to wear a life vest and take drinking water and snacks. Also take your mobile phone and extra clothes in a waterproof bag or container. Check the weather forecast so you can be prepared. 

Rest stops are recommended, or breaking the tour up over two or more days.

Safety: 

• Choose bright colours for clothes and kayak so you can be more easily seen on the lake
• Use common sense

• Check the current weather forecast with your rental company before setting off. The weather can change very quickly on the lake

• If you have never kayaked before it is a good idea to start with a short course

Suitable for:
Experienced kayakers

Start and finish: 
Recommended starting points are Läckö Slott or Naven. There are also plenty of launching opportunities all round the island if you have your own kayak.

Location:
If starting from Läckö Slott it is well signposted from Lidköping. There is plenty of parking at Läckö Slott.

By public transport with Västtrafik take the 132 from Lidköping to Spiken and during the summer you can get off at Läckö Slott. Check details for bus 132 on https://www.vasttrafik.se/en/ or download the Västtrafik To Go app.

If starting from Naven turn left off Kållandsövägen and follow the signs for Läckö Golf. Then follow the road until you pick up the signs for Naven.

With Local Services via Västtrafik, You can travel from any address to any of the municipality's local service stops or vice versa.  However the address must be in the green area on the map of local services. You call and book your trip at least 1 hour before the desired departure based on the given time intervals (see times). Travelling with Local Services costs the same as a regular single ticket and you can pay both in cash and by bank card. For more information www.vasttrafik.se